Frame for displaying lace curtains, rugs, embroideries, tapestries, or the like.



No. 745,288. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

W. A. MGDOUGALL. FRAME FOR DISPLAYING LAGE CURTAINS, BUGS, EMBROIDERIES,

TAPESTRIES, 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI.

N0 MODEL.

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TH: onlus paens ca. Pummrmo.. wAsn No. 745,288. PATBNTBD Nov. 24, 1903.`

W. A. MGDOUGALL.

FRAME FOR DISPLAYING LACE CURTAINS, BUGS, EMBROIDVBRIES, TAPESTRIES, 0R THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. r"7215,288.

UNrTED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

gPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. MGDOUGALL, OF LONDON, CANADA.

FRAME FOR DISPLAYING LACE CURTAINS, RUGS,EMB R0|DERIES, TAPESIRIES, 0R THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 745,288, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed July 7, 1902. Serial No. 114,697. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern/r Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. McDou- GALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of London, in the county of Middlesex, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frames for Displaying Lace Curtains, Rugs, Embroideries, Tapestries, or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device whereby a large number of different styles or patterns or all the different styles or patterns of a class of goods or of different classes of goods may be readily, easily, and instantly displayed by the salesman and inspected by the intending purchaser to better advantage, with more satisfaction to both, and in at least one-half of thetime that it would take to display them from the counter, and of providing a device whereby all possibility of crumpling or soiling the goods whendisplaying or examining them will be avoided and completely prevented, one result of which is that every parcel of the goods corresponding with th'e article displayed up to the last one sold will be delivered in a fresh and clean condition and in an unopened original package. There will therefore be no shop-worn goods to be disposed of at a sacrice sale at the close of the season, the result of all of which is that a large saving is effected not only in the time of the salesman', but in the value of the goods.

The invention consists of the improved construction and novel combination of parts, as i will be hereinafter first fully set forth and described and then pointed out in the claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. In this view the cover is raised to show the remaining portions more clearly. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of same. l Fig. 3 is another view of Fig. 2, showing modifications in the arrangements of the cords or flexible bands for operating the carriers. Fig. 4. is another view of Fig. l

2, showing a modification in the construction of the carrier. Fig. 5 is'an end view of the carrier shown in Fig. 4, showing the sections of which it is composed closed on one another.

Fig. 6 is a central cross-sectional viewof same, showing the sections slightly separated. In this view the clasp 16 and staples 17 are removed.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral l designates a frame, formed of wood or other suitable material, which is usually suspended from the ceiling; but it may be suspended from the ceiling or other suitable support in any manner or by any suitable means. One convenient means of suspending this frame 1 would be by screw-eyes (not shown) secured thereto, from which not only ropes or wires may extend to suspend it, but to brace it and firmly and rigidly hold it in place. 2 designates track Wires `or rods which eX- tend across said frame and which are firmly held in place in said frame between a washer 3, riveted on one end, and a thumb-screw 4 and washer 5, engaging with a screw-thread on the other end', 0r instead of a washer riveted on one end a shoulder may be formed'on said end of said track-wire.

6 designates carriers formed of wood or other suitable material, and 7 screw eyes rmly secured to said carriers, th rough which screw-eyes the track wires or rods 2 extend, and by means of which screw-eyes said carriers 6 are suspended from and move back and 'forth perfectly free on said track-wires 2. 8 designates strips of felt, cloth, or other 4.textile material secured to and extending be- ,low said carriers 6, to which strip 8 the lace curtain or other article may be readily, easily, and instantly pinned or otherwise attached.

9 and 10 designate cords or other fiexible bands provided with handles 1l, one of which cords is secured to the opposite ends of each carrier 6 by the screw-eyes 12, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4t, and said cords 9 and 10 eX- tend through eyelet-holes 13, formed in two opposite sides of theA frame 1, or said cords may pass over pulleys secured in or at two opposite sides of the frame 1, if preferred.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 two cords 9 and 10 are shown, one attached to each end of "each of the carriers 6, and when so constructed the carrier would be operated to the best advantage from both sides of the frame 1 in order to move it in opposite directions; but in Fig. 3 modifications are shown, in one of which :H l. im.

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ytwo cords 9a and 1,0'rL converge together and n both connected to the handle 11a, and in this View another modification is shown of an endless cord 9b, which is secured to the screweye 12, then extends upward and through the screw-eye 1st, back across the trame and through the eyelet-hole 13a, then down to the handle 1lb, then up and through an eyelethole 13b, and then across the frame again and secured to the screw-eye 12b. In the case of the cords 9a and 101L the carrier 6 is operated from the front by grasping the handle 11a, and in the case of the endless cord 9b the carrier is operated in both directions from one side of the frame.

In'Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is illustrated a modification in the construct-ion of the carrier in which a carrier 6, formed in two sections c d, is shown, and said sections are connected together at one side by the hinges 15, and in the section c pins e are firmly secured, and in the section d pin-holes or sockets f are formed, to which said. pins e are fitted and with which they are adapted to engage. 16 designates a clasp pivotally secured to said carrier by the staples 17 and adapted to clasp and firmly hold the two sections c d together, as shown in Fig. 5.

When carriers are constructed as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the article is secured thereto by turning up the clasp 16 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 and spreading the sections c d apart, as shown in Fig. 6, when, by inserting the article 18 between said sections c CZ, as shown in Fig. 6, and closing the sections c and d on one another and adjusting theclasp 16 to the position shown by solid line in Fig. 5, said article is iirmlysecured to said carrier, and when closing said sections c d to the position shown in Fig. 5 the pins e are projected through the article 1S and into the pin-holes f. This completely pre vents any possibility of the article from slipping or being dragged down by its own weight or pulled down from between the sections c 0l, and a construction of this kind is an advantage and necessary when displaying rugs, tapestries, or other heavy articles on the carriers 6.

19 designates a cover of cloth or other suitable material placed over the top of the frame 1 to prevent the dust from falling on or coming in contact with the articles suspended from the carriers 6.

2O designates bars in which holes 2l are formed, and 22 hangers formed of rope, wire, or other suitable material connectedA at one end to the frame l and at the other end to the bars 20, and said ropes 9 and 10 are fitted loosely to and extend through the holes 21 in said bars 20, and said ropes 9 and 10, eX- tending through said holes 21 in said bars 20, are held separate and independent from one another and prevented from winding around or becoming mixed up with one another in any way.

The frame 1 is twice the length of the carriers 6, and when lace curtains or other light tached,all of thecarriers are arranged at either A side, but all at one side of the frame 1 and one behind the other. The goods are then ready to be displayed, which is done by simply grasping the handle 11 of the cord 10 and drawing said cord downward. This adjusts the carrier G to the opposite side of the frame 1, when the style or pattern may be inspected and returned to its normal position, and so on until all the styles or patterns are displayed or until a style or pattern which meets the approval of the purchaser is displayed.

The practical advantages of this improved device are that the goods for sale are displayed before the intending purchaser without being handled, whereas the ordinary practice of selling the same goods from the counter is to unfold them and display them for approval, and after the purchase has been made the clerks have to again handle them to fold them up before returning them to the shelves, as well as before handing them to the purchaser, all of which takes up considerable time of the salesman, and at the same time the goods returned to the shelves, as well as the articles purchased, have been more or less.

crumpled and soiled by handling, whereas by the use of this invention no handling is necessary, .so that all crumpling and soiling from this cause is avoided and completely prevented and the goods displayed and the sale made in at least one-half of the time that it would take to display them from the counter.

Another advantage of this device is that the goods are readily, easily, and instantly displayed to better advantage and with more satisfaction to the salesman as well as the intending purchaser, and all that is necessary for the clerk to do after a selection has been made is togo to the parcel containing the goods of a similar style or pattern, remove the number purchased, wrap them up,and the sale is completed.

Another advantage is that the purchaser gets clean goods that have not been folded or unfolded or handled by other intending purchasers, which is unavoidable in the usual practice of selling goods from the counter, and every article of the goods corresponding with the articles displayed up to the last one sold will be delivered in a fresh and clean condition and in an unopened original package, if they are provided with such. There will therefore be no shop-worn goods to be disposed of at a sacrifice sale at the close of the season, the result of all which is that a large saving is eected, not only in the time of the salesman, but in the value of the goods. At the same time a simple, strong, durable,

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v claiml. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame in two opposite sides of which eyeletholes are formed, horizontal track-wires extending across and rigidly secured at their ends to two opposite sides of said frame, in combination with carriers, loops or eyes secured to said carriers, through which loops or eyes the track-wires extend on which said carriers are adapted to be adjusted back and forth perfectly free, and cords, one of which is secured to each end of each carrier and which extends through an eyelethole in the side of said frame adjacent to the end of said carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame in which cyelet-holes are formed, horizontal track-wires extending across and rigidly secured at their ends to two opposite sides of said frame, in combination with carriers, loops or eyes secured to said carriers, through which loops or eyes the track-wires extend on which said carriers are adapted to be adj usted back and forth perfectly free, a horizontal bar in which holes are formed suspended by hangers below said frame, and a cord secured to each carrier and extending through one of said eyelet-holes in said frame and through a hole in said horizontal bar suspended below said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. I-n an apparatus of the class described, a frame in two opposite sides of which eyeletholes are formed, horizontal track-wires extending across and rigidly secured at their ends to two opposite sides of said frame, in combination with carriers, loops or eyes secured to said carriers, through which loops or eyes the track-wires extend on which said carriers are adapted to be adjusted back and forth perfectly free, horizontal bars in which holes are formed suspended by hangers below 'said frame at two opposite sides, and cords,

one of which is secured to each end of said carrier and which extends through an eyethe horizontal bar suspended below the corresponding side of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a fram-e in two opposite sides of which eyeletholes are formed, horizontal track-wires extending across and rigidly secured at their ends to two opposite sides of said frame, in combination with carriers, loops or eyes secured to said carriers, through which loops or eyes the track-wires extend on which said carriers are adapted to be adjusted back and low said frame at two opposite sides, andy cords, one of which is secured to each end of said carrier and which extends through an eyelet-hole in the side of said frame adjacent to the end of said carrier and through a hole in the horizontal bar suspended below the corresponding'side of said frame, and a cover extending over said frame, track-wires and carriers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame in which eyelet-openings are formed, track-wires supported in said frame, carriers supported by and adapted to move lengthwise on said track-wires, and felt pads secured to said carriers, in combination with cords or flexible bands extending through said eyeletopenings in said frame, and provided with handles for operating said carriers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame in which eyelet-openings are formed, track-wires supported in said frame, carriers supported by and adapted to move lengthwise on said track-wires, and felt pads secured to said carriers, in combination with cords or iiexible bands, and bars in which holes are formed, through which holes and the eyeletopenings in said frame said cords extend, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MCD OUGALL.

Witnesses:

P. J. EDMUNDS, M. E. KELLEY. 

